Faucet assembly



R. c. BARKELEW I 3,011,520

FAUCETASSEMBLY Dec. 5, 1961 Filed March 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 5, 1961 FAUCET ASSEMBLY Filed March 25, 1957 my A R. C. BARKELEW 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 19m/neo 6T BAp/E/.Ew

z Or/QJ United States Patent() Filed Mar. 25,' 1957, Ser. No. 648,136

6 Claims. (Cl. 137-625.17)

This invention relates generally to plumbing fixtures, l

and more particularly rto a faucet assembly embodying fluid mixture and volume control valve means of the general character disclosed in my prior patent, No. 2,5 (ll 657, issued March 28, 1950. y

Both my prior control valve and that embodied in the present invention are capable of general application and may be employed to advantage wherever itr is desired or necessary to regulate the relative proportions of fluids delivered through two inlet pipes, as well as the total volume of fluid discharged through an outlet pipe.

One general iield of application is that of controlling the temperature and rate of discharge of water from the faucet of a home.

The illustrative embodiment of the present invention,

for instance, comprises a faucet assembly of a character employed in bathtubs having so-called tub showers. Briefly, the assembly includes a spout which is used for filling the bathtub with water and a diverter valve which is selectively positionable to enable Water to be discharged, as desired, through the spout or the tub shower head.

Incorporated in this faucet assembly are huid-mixing and volume-control valve means generally similar to the fluid mixture and volume control valve means` of my aforementioned prior patent. These valve means are operable by a user to control both the temperature and volume of water discharged either through the spout of the faucet assembly or .the-tub shower head. l

The present fluid mixture andvolume control valve means, however, possess certain improved features of construction over my prior control Valve means which render the same more suitable to their intended purpose. Further, the present faucet assembly, as a whole, presents certain novel structural features which greatly facilitate its installation and use.

A broad object of the present invention is, therefore, the provision of a new and improved fluid mixture and volume control faucet assembly of the character described. Y

A more specic object of the invention is the provision of a faucet assembly of the character described which is especially designed and ideally suited to controlling the temperature and volume of water discharged through a bathtub spout as Well as a tub shower head.

During the fabrication of a home, one of the first steps after erection of the framework is that of installing the pipes which convey hot and cold Water to the bathrooms and kitchen of the home. According to common practice,

after the pipes have been installed, the Water outlets of the pipe system are capped or plugged and the system is pressurized by connection to the water mains. This is done to permit leaks in the system to be detected. After plastering of the walls of the home has been completed, Water pressure is removed from the system, the plugs or caps removed, and the several faucets are connected to the pipe system at the outlets of the latter.

ln the past, various types of plugs or caps havel been employed for sealing the water pipe system prior to installation of the faucets. Generally, these caps or plugs Y have comprised threaded members adapted to be threaded over or in the outlet pipes of the pipe system. Plugs or caps of this character are ltedious and time consuming to install and remove and are, therefore, not completely satisfactory. Further, heretofore the outlets of the pipe system have generally comprised threaded nipples, or

3,011,520 Patented Dec.r5, A 1l61 ICC the like, adapted for threaded engagement with the faucets. This existing threaded type of faucet connection is generally not too satisfactory, owing to the excessive amount of time and labor involved in threadedly connecting the faucets to the outlets of the pipe system.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a faucet assembly of the character described which is uniquelydesigned to accommodate the use of a simplified plug arrangement for initially capping the outlets of the pipe system prior to installation of the faucets thereon. Yet another object of the invention is theV provision of a faucet assembly of the character described which is so arranged as to greatly simplify and facilitate installation of the faucets on the outlets of the pipe system as well as permit a relatively large degree of adjustment to compensate for varying wall thicknesses.

In the past, instances have arisen wherein small children have been severely scalded due to their inadvertent turning of the hot water handle of a faucet while being given a bath in a tub or sink, for example. A further object of this invention is the provision of a faucet assembly of the character described which is so designed as to eliminate the possibility of a person being scalded by inadvertent or accidental manipulation of the handles of the faucet assembly.

Briefly, the fluid mixture and'volume control valve means of my prior patent yand that embodied in the present faucet assembly comprises a valve member which is rotatable with respect to two angularly spaced inlet ports in a valve housing to control the mixture proportions of fluids entering the housing through these ports. In the illustrative application of the invention, cold water 'enters uthe valve housing through one of these ports and hotv respect to both of the inlet ports and an outlet port to control the volume of mixed fluids, which is water in the present case, discharged through the outlet port. Control valves of this character are inclined to be somewhat noisy under certain conditions owing to turbulence created during flow of the Water through one or both of the inlet .ports which are partially constricted.

Yet a further object of this invention is the provision of valve means which are so constructed as to greatly minimize or entirely eliminate turbulence of the Water entering through an inlet port so as to be appreciably more silent in operation.

Yet a further object of the invention is a provision Of a faucet assembly of the character described which is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive to fabricate, and otherwise especially well suited to its intended purpose.

Other objects, advantages, and features ofthe invention will become readily apparent as'the description proceeds.

Brieily, these objects are achieved in the illustrative embodiment of the invention by the provision of an elongate faucet body defining a spout at one end. Opening through the opposite end of the body are three bores having their axes substantially parallel' and provided with internall system to -be tested with water pressure. This cap means is uniquely designed to greatly facilitate and simplify assembly thereof on and removal from the stems.

YOne of these stems communicates with an overhead tub shower head, the remaining two stems forming inlet pipesfor hot and cold water, respectively. When the faucet body is installed, the latter two stems communicate with a pair of inlet ports in the faucet body which open into a valve chamber.

Rotatable and axially movable within this chamber is a valve member. This valve member is rotated by means of a lever handle located externally of the body and moved in an axially direction by means of a conventional wheel handle.

The relative vproportions of the hot and cold water flowing into the valve chamber through the inlet ports is controlled by rotation of this valve member, the volume of water discharged from the chamber through an outlet port is controlled by axial movement of the valve member. A diverter valve is provided to enable this water discharged from the valve chamber to be delivered either to the spout of the faucet assembly or to the overhead shower head.

Formed about the outlet port is a valve seat engageable with a seal ring on the valve member to shut oi ow entirely. Associated with these fluid mixture and volume control valve means is an adjustable stop which may be set to limit rotation of the valve member in the valve chamber and, therefore, the relative proportions of hot and cold water discharged from the valve chamber. In use, this stop is set so that only a given maximum proportion of hot water will be admitted to the valve chamber. The maximum temperature of the water issuing from the spout of the faucet assembly or from the shower head is therefore limited. Means are provided for releasing this stop in the event that hotter water is desired.

Extending axially from the valve member is a generally conical restricter which extends into the outlet port. This restricter is so configured as to maintain a slight back pressure in the valve chamber for any setting of the valve means. This slight back pressure has been found to appreciably diminish or eliminate turbulence of the water entering through the inlet ports with the resultant reduction in the noise createdlby such turbulence. Y

In installation of the faucet assembly, the casting is merely slid over the three stems and clamped in desired position in accordance with the wall thickness. The adjustment accommodated by this manner of installation alords a relatively large degree of compensation for walls of varying thickness.

The invention will be best understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is an exploded view illustrating the present faucet assembly and outlet capping means;

FIGURE 2 is a section taken longitudinally through the present faucet assembly illustrating the latter in installed position in a household piping system;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken along line 3--3 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken along line 4--4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 ofFIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the rotatable and axially movable valve member embodied in the fluid mix- 4ture and volume control valve means of the present faucet assembly;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged detail of the lower end of the valve'member of FIGURE 6 and valve casing receiving the same, illustrating the manner in which complete shutolf of the water isV accomplished in the present faucet assembly; and

FIGURE 8 is a partial section illustrating a 'diverter valve, embodied in the present faucet assembly, in a position wherein the assembly is arranged to deliver water to an overhead shower head.

Referring now to these drawings, and more particularly to FIGURE l thereof, the present faucet assembly will be seen to comprise a coupling element 10 which is adapted for connection in a piping system 12 of a home, faucet body 14, and a cover =16 for lending a smooth and finished appearance to the faucet assembly. Coupling element 10 comprises three smooth, cylindrical tubes, or outlet pipes 18, 20 and 22, which connect, respectively, to a pipe 24 Y leading to an overhead shower head, not shown, a hot water pipe 26, and a cold water pipe 28.

When fabricating a house, the piping 12 will be installed prior to plastering of the walls and will be located between adjacent studs comprising the framework of the house.l After the walls have beenplastered, the piping 12 and most of the coupling element 10 will be hidden by the plaster of the wall W, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The three tubes 18, 20 and 22, however, project beyond the outer surface of the plastered wall, as shown,-for connection to the faucet body 14 as will presently be described.

As prelirninarily mentioned, it is common practice in the building trade to have water pressure in the pipe system 12 in order to detect leaks which may result from improper assembly of the system or damage to the system during subsequent building operations. To enable water pressure to be maintained in the pipe system, obviously, it is necessary that all the outlet openings be plugged or capped.

I'he present invention provides novel cap means 30 for this purpose. Cap means 30 comprise a disc 32 having on one face a series of three circular recesses 34 for receiving three resilient discs 36. The recesses 34 are arranged to be registered with the open ends of the three outlet tubes 18, Ztl and 22.

When capping the tubes, the three resilient discs or plugs 36 are seated in the recesses 34 and the capping disc 32 is positioned so that the open ends of the tubes seat against the three discs 36. The capping disc 32 is then urged against the tubes by means of a screw 33 receivable in a threaded opening 40 in the body of the coupling element 10.

This capping means 30 thus provides a simplified means for closing the open ends of the tubes 18, 20 and 22 to enable pipe system 12 to be pressurized. The ease of assembly of the capping means 30 on the coupling element 10 and removal of the capping means will be readily apparent. If desired, passage means 42 may communicate one of the water supply tubes 20l or 22 with the shower head tube 18 to enable water to be delivered to the shower head pipe 24. In this case, the shower head end of the pipe 24 would be plugged in some suitable manner, not shown, and two of the sealing discs 36 are formed with openings, not shown, communicating to passage 42. Also, an open ended cylinder 43, of paperboard or the like, may be aflixed to the disc 32 for shielding the tubes 18, 20 and 22 against plaster.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 through 8, the faucet body 14 is shown as comprising a casting 44 formed at one end with a downwardly opening spout passage 46. Opening through the opposite end of the casting 44 are three bores 48, 50 and 52 located and proportioned to slideably receive the three coupling element tubes 18, 20 and 22. Located within each of the bores is an O-ring 54 (only one shown) for providing a fluid-tight seal between each of the tubes and the casting 44.

When installing the present faucet assembly, as will presently be more fully discussed, the capping means 30 are removed from the coupling element 16) and the faucet body 44 is slid over the three tubes 18, 20 and 22, as shown in FIGURE 2.

In order to retain the faucet body 1'4 on the tubes against the action of water pressure, the casting 44 is provided with two, rear split sleeve portions 56 concentric with the bores 48 and 50. The extreme left hand and right hand halves of the split sleeves, as viewed in FIGURE 3, are formed with downwardly extending lugs 58. These lugs are apertured to receive a clamp bolt 60.

In installing the faucet body 14, the latter is slid over the tubes 18,. 20 and 22, as just mentioned, and the clamp screw 6i) is then tightened to rmly clamp the faucet body 14 on the tubes. v

The lower bore 52 of the faucet body 14 opens into a passage 62 which extends lengthwise of the casting 44. The forward end of this passage 62 communicates'with a second longitudinally extending passage 64 in the casting 44 through a forward vertical opening or port 66.

Port 66 is surrounded by an annular valve seat 68 against which is adapted to seat a circular valve member 7 0 of a diverter valve 72. The Valve member 70 is fixed to the lower end of a stem 74 which extends slideably through an opening in the upper face of the casting 44 adjacent the forward end of the latter. Mounted on the upper` extending end of this stem 74 is a knob 76 which may be grasped to pull the diverter valve 72 upwardly from the position of FIGURE 2 to the position of FIG- URE 8 wherein the circular valve member 70 seats against a second annular valve seat 78.

Spout passage 46 communicates with the upper longitudinal passage 64 through a forward port 80 in the casting 44 and the opening through the yannular valve seat 78. It will be seen, therefore, that when the diverter valve is in its lower position of FIGURE 2, the spout passage 46 communicates with the upper longitudinal passage 64 in the faucet casting 44.. When the diverter valve is in its upper position or" FIGURE 8, on the other hand, the spout passage -46 is sealed off from the upper longitudinal passage 64, while the latter communicates with the lower longitudinal passage 62 and hence Ywith the coupling tube 18, through the forward port 66.

Formed on the upper side of the faucet casting 44, adjacent the rear or left hand end of the latter, as viewed in FIGURE 2, is an upwardly extending, cylindric flange 82 formed therethrough with a bore 84. The axis of bore `84 is inclined slightly to the axis of the passages, 62 and 64, as shown. Tightly bonded in this bore 84 is a sleeve 86 which is open at its upper end. The lower end of sleeve 86 is closed by an end wall 88 centrally formed with a discharge port 90.

Formed on the inner surface of the end wall 8S about the discharge port 90 is a raised valve seat 92 of annular configuration and provided with a half-round edge, as

shown. Sleeve S6 defines therein a cylindrical valve chamber 94 in which is slideably and rotatably received a valve member 96.

Valve member 96 is cylindrical and provided intermediate its ends with an O-ring seal, as shown, which seals the valve member to the inner wall of the sleeve 86.

Secured to the lower end of the Valvemember 96 isa disc 100 of suitable resilient material for seating against the annular valve seat 92 to cut off flow through the outlet passage of port 96, as will be seen. Also secured to the lower end of the valve member 96 and extending axially therefrom through the outlet port 90 is a generally conical restrictor plug 102 which serves to silence valve operation, as preliminarily mentioned, and hereinafter more fully discussed. Fitted in an annular groove adjacent thebase of this restrictor 162 is an O-ring 104. O-ring 104 yis slideably receivable in the discharge port 90 in the closed position of valve member 96 to provide a secondary closure seal, as will be described. v

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 5, the two upper bores 48 and 50` in the casting 44 are formed in two lateral bosses 106 and 108 at opposite sides ofthe casting 44. These bosses are elongated longitudinally of the casting and formed with elongated chambers or passages 1 10 and 112 which, at their left-hand end, slideably receive two upper tubes 2t) and 22 of the coupling element 10.` The passages 110 and 112 are enlargedV inwardly of their open end, as shown, to` accommodate the flow of water between the walls of the passages and the tubes 20 and 22 when the ends of the latter are adjacent the forward or right hand ends ofthe passages. Y j i Passage 110 opens into the interior of the valve sleeve 86 through a first inlet port 114 formed in the Wall of the sleeve adjacent the lower end thereof, as shown. Passage 112 similarly opens to the interior of this valve sleeve 86 or valve chamber 94, through a second inlet port 116 formed in the valve sleeve 86 diametrically opposite the first inlet port 114.

As will be presently more fully discussed, valve member 96 is operative to control the flow of Water from the chambers 110 and 112 into the valve chamber 94 through the two inlet ports 114 and 116. To this end, the lower end of the valve member is radially inwardly relieved at one side for approximately 180 degrees extent, as Shown at 118 in FIGURES. This relief 118 extends a limited distance axially of the valve member 96, as shown more clearly in FIGURES 2 and 6.

From the description thus far, it will be` seen that for any given axial position of the valve member 96, rotation of the latter in the valve chamber 94 will effect eclipsing of one of lthe inlet ports 114 or 116 and simultaneous uncovering of the other inlet port. Thus, the arrangement is such that this rotation of the valve member varies the relative proportions of hot and cold water entering through the two inlet ports 114 and 116 while maintaining total volume of water entering the valve chamber through these inlet ports substantially constant. Adjustment of the total volume of water discharged from the valve through the discharge port 90 is accomplished by axial movement of the valve member 96 in the valve chamber 94 to uncover or-close the inlet ports 114 and 116 simultaneously, as well as vary the flow space between the valve member 96 and its valve seat 92. Downward axial movement of the Valve member to seat the seal 100 against Athe valve seat 92, of course, effects complete Shut-off of flow through the discharge port 90.

Rotation of the valve member 96 to effect a change in the relative proportions of hot and cold water entering through the two inlet ports 114 and 116 is accomplished by swinging of a lever handle in opposite directions. Axial adjustment of valve member 96 in the valve chamber- 94 to Vary the total volume of water discharged through the discharge port 90 is accomplished by rotation of a circular valve handle 122 in opposite directions,

To accomplish rotation of the valve member 96 by swinging of the handle 120, the latter is provided at itsV left-hand end, as viewed in FIGURE 2, with a downwardly extending, cylindrical flange 124 which fits rotatably over a pair of diametrically opposed, outwardly extending flanges or lips 126 at the upper end of the valve 'sleeve 86. These flanges or lips may be observed most clearly in FIGURE 4.

The lower end of the cylindrical flange 124 on the handle 120 is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed, inwardly extending flanges or lips 128. Inv vassembling the handle 126 on the Valve sleeve S6, the handle 120 is positioned, approximately 90 degrees displaced from its position of FIGURE 2, wherein its flanges 128 are aligned with the `spaces between the flanges 126 onthe Sleeve 86, The handleis then pushed clownwardlyY on the sleeve and then rotated to engage its flanges 12S under the flanges 126 on the valve sleeve 86.

Handle 120 is thereby rotatable relative to the, valve sleeve 86 but is retained against upward axial separation vfrom the valve sleeve by abutment ofthe flanges 126 and I128. An annular curl spring 130, engaging at opposite sides the upper end of the valve sleeve 86 andthe handle 120, serves to urge the shoulders or flanges 1 26 and 128 together. j

Downward movement ofthe handle 120 over vthe valve sleeve 86 is limited by means of an inner, concentric,

cylindric flange 132 formed on the handle within the outer cylindric flange 124. Cylindric flange 132 seats in an inner peripheral recess in the valve chamber 94, as shown. j

As illustrated most clearly in FIGURE 4 and 6, the upper end of the valve member 96 is provided at oppo- 7 site sides with ats so as to form an axial tongue 134. This tongue is receivable within a pair of diametrically opposed, axially extending grooves 135 formed in the inner cylindric liange 132, so that the valve member is slideably keyed to the handle 120 for rotation with an axial movement relative to the latter.

Axial adjustment of the valve member 96 in the valve chamber 94 to control the volume of water discharged through the outlet port 90 is aiected by means of a threaded valve stem 136 which is fixed at its upper end to the circular handle 122. The upper portion of the stem 136 is formed with a right-hand thread 138 which is engaged in a threaded bore 146 in the handle 124) concentric with the valve chamber 94 and valve member 96.

The lower end of the stem '136 is formed with a lefthand thread 142 which engages in a threaded axial bore 144 formed in and opening through the upper end of the valve member 96.

This threadedl stem arrangement forms, in effect, a turnbuckle-like assembly wherein when the handle 122 is turned in a clockwise direction, the right hand threads 138 cause the stem 136 to move downwardly with re spect to the handle 120 while the left-hand threads 142 cause the valve member 96 to move downwardly with respect to the stem 136. Thus, the travel of the valve member 96 is equal to the sum of the movements imn parted to it by the right-hand threads 138 and the lefthand threads 142.

A similar, but opposite action obtains when the handle 122 is turned in a counterclockwise direction to raise the valve member 96. The advantage of this turnbuckle-like arrangement of axially moving the valve member 96 is that the latter is advanced twice as fast as it would be if there were only one set of threads of the same pitch. Since the upper part of the valve chamber 94 is sealed from the bottom portion thereof by the -ring seal about the valve member, the threads 138 and 142 can be packed with grease for permanent lubrication as in the tluid mixture and volume control valve arrangement of my aforementioned prior patent.

Indicated generally at 146 is an adjustable, releasable stop device for limiting swinging of the handle 120 in one direction. This stop device comprises, as shown most clearly in FIGURES 2 and 4, a latch member or plate 148 formed with a latching lip 159. Latching lip 150 is engageable with a stop comprising a downwardly extending lug 152 on the handle 120 to limit rotation of the latter in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 4. Latch plate 148 is formed along its left-hand side, as viewed in FIGURES 2 and 4, with a pair of downwardly extending lugs 154 having aligned, threaded openings for receiving an adjusting screw 156. Adjusting screw 156 is journalled at opposite ends in a pair of lugs 158 and 160 formed on the inner surfaces of the cover 116 adjacent -the left hand or rear end of the latter, as shown most clearly in FIGURE 4. Cover 16 is formed with an access opening 162 through which a screwdriver, or the like, may be inserted to turn the adjusting screw 156 to move the latch plate 148 either up or down, as viewed in FIGURE 4, and thereby adjust the limiting position of the handle 120.

Owing to the threaded engagement between the latch plate 148 and the adjusting screw 156, the plate is vertically swingable on the adjusting screw, as indicated in FIGURE 2. A spring 164 encircling the adjusting screw 156 and having opposite ends bearing against the latch plate and rear wall of the cover 16 serves to bias the latch plate from its lower phantom line, released position of FIGURE 2, to its upper, solid line latching position of that figure. In the latching position of the plate 148, the latching lip 150 is disposed in the path of the lug 152 on the handle 120 so as to limit swinging of the handle as just mentioned. When the plate is depressed to its phantom line released position in FIGURE 2, however, the latching lip 150 is disposed below the handle lug 152 so that handle 120 may be swung in -aclockwise direction beyond the limiting position determined by the latching plate 148.

Cover 16 is formed with a centrally bored boss 166, FIGURE 2, which is aligned with the latch plate 14S and slideably receives a headed pin 16S. Pin 168 is adapted to be depressed, as indicated in FIGURE 2, to move the latch plate 148 from its latching position to its released position against the action of the biasing spring 164. The latch pin 168 is shown as being removable from the faucet yassembly as an added safety precaution, as will 'be presently discussed. If desired, however, the pin may be retained within the boss 166 in any suitable manner which permits depression of the pin to release the latch plate.

This completes the structural description of the present faucet assembly.

Operation of the invention is believed to be apparent from the foregoing description. Thus, before installing Vthe faucet body 14 on the three tubes 18, 20 and 22 of the coupling element 10, the open ends of the tubes will -be sealed by the capping means 30 to permit water pressure to be maintained in the pipe system 12 for leakdetection purposes. After the walls have been plastered, the .water pressure is removed from the water system 12 and the capping means 30 is removed. The three coupling element tubes 18, 20 and 22 are now inserted in the bores 48, 50 and 52 of the faucet body 14 and the latter is slid along the tubes until its rear face engages or is spaced a desired distance from the surface of the wall. As was mentioned earlier, this sliding type assembly of the faucet body on the coupling element 10 facilitates and greatly reduces the time involved in the installation of the faucet as Well as accommodates a relatively large degree of adjustment to compensate for varying wall thicknesses.

After the faucet body 14 is thus positioned on the coupling element 10, the clamp screw 60 is tightened to firmly clamp the faucet body to the two upper tubes 20 and 22. The O-ring seals 54 assure a leak-proof connection of the faucet body to the tubes.

If desired, a suitable ornate escutcheon 170 may be positioned about the rear or left hand end of the faucet body 14 and cover 16, as shown in FIGURE 2, to cover any unsightly openings which may have been left or formed in the wall W.

When water pressure is admitted to the pipe system 12, hot Water Will llow through pipe 26 and tube 20 into the lower chamber 112, as viewed in FIGURE 5, in the faucet body 14. Similarly, cold water will flow through pipe 28 and tube 22 into thel upper chamber 110, as viewed in FIGURE 5, in the faucet body 14.

If the valve member 96 is in its closed position, as illustrated in FIGURE 7, wherein the sealing disc 100 at the lower end of the valve member engages the raised valve seat 92, the faucet assembly is completely shut off so that no Water will issue either through the spout passage 46 or the tub shower head, not shown. In this closed position of valve member 96, as shown in FIGURE 7, a dual sealing action is provided by engagement of the sealing washer 100 against the valve seat 92 and engagement of the O-ring 104 on the restricter 102 with the wall of the outlet port 90. Thus, complete shut-olf of the faucet assembly may be effected even though one or the other of these seals is worn. Obviously, such a dual sealing arrangement is not necessary, and only one of the seals, such as the sealing washer 100, may be used.

Assuming the diverter valve 72 to be in its lower position of FIGURE 2, rotation of the handle 122 in a counter-clockwise direction will effect, in a manner previously described, raising of the valve member 96 away from the valve seat 92 so that water may flow from the two chambers and 112 through the inlet ports 114 and 116 into valve chamber 94. Water flows from the valve chamber, through the annular flow passage dened between the wall of the outlet port 90 and the surface of 9 the restricter 102 into the passage 64 in the faucet body 14. Water is discharged from this passage through the faucet spout passage 46. v

If the diverter valve 72 is raised to its elevated position of FIGURE 8, on the other hand, the faucet spout passage 46 will be sealed oit and a ow of water will occur from the discharge port 90 into the passage 64 and thus through the forward port y66 into the lower passage 62 in the faucet body from whence it flows through the stem 18 to the overhead shower head, not shown. The volume of this flow of water either through the spout passage 46 or to the shower head, not shown, may be adjusted by rotation of the handle 122 to raise and lower the valve member 96 toward and away from the valve seat 92.

It will be seen that in any angular position of valve member 96 relative to the two inlet ports 114 and v1,16, this axial movement of the valve member will increase or decrease the exposed portions of the inlet ports. Thus, when the valve member is elevated, the total eiective area of the inlet ports is increased, whereas when the valve member 96 is lowered, the total elective area ofthe inlet ports is decreased. This action in conjunction with the movement of the lower end of the valve member toward and away from the valve seat 92 accomplishes control over the volume of Water discharged into the upper faucet body passage 64. l

As preliminarily mentioned, the restricter is so configured that the eiective discharge port area, defined between the surface of the restricter and the inner wall of the discharge port 90 is so proportioned to the total combined effective areas of the inlet ports 114 and 116, for any given position of the valve member 96, that a slight back pressure is always maintained in the valve chamber 94. This back pressure effectively reduces or entirely eliminates turbulence in the water passing through the valve chamber 94. Such turbulence has been found to produce undesirable noisy operation of valves of this type. Such noisy operation, is thus eliminated in the present faucet assembly by the provision of the restricter 102 which produces the aforementioned back pressure in the valve chamber 94.

It will further be clear that swinging of the handle 120 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG- URE 4, effects rotation of the valve member 96 in a counterclockwise direction. This rotation of the valve member 96 has the efect, assuming the valve member to be in the initial position of FIGURE 5, of simultaneously reducing the effective area of the hot water inlet port 116 and increasing the effective area of the Coldwater inlet port 114. 'Ihe temperature of the water discharged from the spout passage 146 or shower head is therefore decreased. Similarly, swinging of the handle 120 in the opposite, or clockwise direction, has the eiect of decreasing the effective area of the cold water inlet port 114 and increasing the effective area of the hot water inlet port 116 so as to increase the temperature of the water issuing from the spout passage 146 or shower head. If the hot and cold water tubes 20 and 22 are reversed, the valve member 96 is merely placed in the handle 120 in a position 180 displaced from that shown.

The latch plate 148 is adjustably positioned to limit clockwise swinging of the handle 120 toward its hot position to a position wherein the water discharged from the faucet assembly is of a desired temperature, sufficiently cool to assure that a person, such as a child, will not be scalded due to inadvertent swinging of the handle 120 toward its hot position. If hotter water is desired, the pin 168 is depressed to move the latch plate 148 to its released position. The handle 120 may thus be swung in a clockwise direction completely to its hot position wherein the cold water passage is reduced to its maximum extent and the hot water inlet port has maximum eiective area.

It will be clear from the foregoing description that there has been described and illustrated a faucet assembly and uid mixture and volume control valve means fully capable of attaining the several objects and advantages preliminarily set forth. While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, it will be apparent that numerous modifications in design and arrangement of parts are possible within the scope of the following claims.

l claim:

1. A valve comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, a rotatable valve member on said body for controlling ow from said inlet to said outlet, a stop on said valve member, a latch member, means supporting said latch member on said body for movement into and out of the path of said stop in a plane substantially parallel to the turning axis of said valve member whereby to form a releasable stop device for limiting rotation of said valve member in one direction, and means for adjusting said latch member in a direction normal to said plane whereby to adjust the limiting position of the valve member.

2. The subject matter of claim l wherein rst-mentioned means comprises an axially stationary, rotatable shaft on said body on which said latch member is rotatable Yfor pivoting in said plane, and said second-mentioned means lcomprises means for adjusting the latch member trolling ow from said inlet to said outlet, a stop on said member, a latch member pivoted on said body on an axis transverse to the turning aixs of said valve.

member for movement into and out of the path of said stop to releasably limitrotation of said valve member in one direction, means yieldably biasing said latch member to a latching position in the path of said stop, said valve body including a cover enclosing said stop and latch member, and a removable, exteriorly accessible pin mounted for axial sliding movement in the cover into engagement with the latch member to release the latter from the outside of said cover.

5. A valve comprising a body including a valve sleeve having an inlet port and a discharge opening, said sleeve being open at one end, a rotatable valve member in said sleeve for regulating flow from said inlet portto said discharge opening by rotation of said valve member between given angular positions in the sleeve, a handle having a cylindri'c ange' rotatably fitted over said one end of said sleeve and connected to said member for rotation of the latter by said handle, a pair of diametrically opposed external anges at said one end of Ithe sleeve, a pair of diametrically opposed internal anges on said cylindric handle llange engageable under said sleeve anges when said member is in 0r between said given angular positions to retain the handle on the valve sleeve, said handle being rotatable on the sleeve to disengage said internal and external anges for release of the handle from thevsleeve, a stop on said cylindric handle flange, and a movable latch member on the valve body releasably engageable with said stop to limit rotation of the valve member between said given angular posi-tions by the handle.

6. A valve comprising a valve sleeve having a hot water inlet port and a cold water inlet port in its wall and a discharge opening in one end, said sleeve being open at the other end, -a .rotatable and axially movable valve member in said sleeve for proportioning flow from said inlet ports to said discharge opening by rotation of said valve member between given angular positions in the sleeve and controlling flow rate through said discharge opening by axial adjustment of said valve member in said sleeve, said valve member and the open end of the valve sleeve being proportioned for axial insertion of the valve member into and removal of the Valve member from ,the sleeve through said open end of the sleeve, a handle having a cylindric flange rotatably fitted over said open end of the sleeve and slidably keyed to said valve member for rotation of the latter with said handle and axial movement of said valve member in said sleeve with respect to said handle, a pair of diametrically opposed external ilanges on said open end of the sleeve, a pair of diametrically opposed internal anges on said cylindric handle flange engageable under said sleeve flanges when said member is in or between said given angular positions to retain the handle on the valve sleeve, said handle being rotatable on the sleeve to disengage said internal and external flanges for removal of the handles and valve member as a unit from the sleeve, and a second handle on said first-mentioned handle for axially adjusting said valve member in said valve sleeve.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 795,027 Connell July 18, 1905 1,029,805 Gilcher June 18, 1912 12 Fisher Mar. 2, Hennessey Dec. 8, Russell Feb. 14, Marvin June 9, Bucknell Sept. 15, Phares Nov. 30, OBrien Feb. 22, Klein Aug. 15, Moen Apr. 17, Andrews July 5, Johnson July 12, Barkelew Mar. 28, Fredrickson May 9, Miller Apr. 29, Mitchell May 19, Kanuch Feb. 2, Grable Apr. 19, Myers Apr, ,29,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Nov. 10, France Sept. 2, 

